Today in Soap Opera History (January 28)

1980: ATWT's Barbara told Tom about the son she gave away (Paul).
1980: The Edge of Night's Margo needed surgery to survive.
1994: All My Children's Brooke had a nightmare.
2004: John Clarke ended his run on Days of our Lives.

"A page of history is worth a pound of logic."
― Oliver Wendell Holmes

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to Scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1965: On Peyton Place, Michael (Ed Nelson) told Constance (Dorothy Malone) that Elliot belonged in the past. "Michael, he's here now," Connie told him in an effort to make him see it wasn't that easy. "So am I," Mike replied.

1972: On Another World, Ada (Constance Ford) promised Rachel (Margie Impert) she wouldn't do anything foolish with what Ernie left her. Impert, who took over as Rachel a month earlier, would only last two more weeks in the role. Executive producer Paul Rauch convinced the original Rachel, Robin Strasser, to return to the soap for four months until Victoria Wyndham was hired.

1980: On As the World Turns, Barbara (Colleen Zenk) confessed to Tom (Tom Tammi) that she had a son with another man three years earlier and gave him to Claudia Colfax and her husband, Raymond, to raise.

1980: On The Edge of Night, surgery was Margo's (Ann Williams) only hope to survive.

1985: On Santa Barbara, Veronica was in grave danger from Peter.

1985: Actor Dennis Parker, best known to soap fans as Police Chief Derek Mallory on The Edge of Night, died at age 38.